Ingestive behavior, performance and forage intake by beef heifers on tropical pasture systems

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia

Renato Alves De Oliveira Neto²  José Henrique Souza Da Silva¹  Marta Gomes Da Rocha²  Luciana Pötter¹  Maria José De Oliveira Sichonany²  Ludmila Leonardi Biscaíno²  Felipe Asconavieta Dos Santos¹  Marcos Vinicios Beck Difante¹ 

[1] ,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

关键词: chromic oxide;    Cynodon dactylon;    feeding station;    Urochloa plantaginea;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1516-35982013000800003

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The experiment was carried out to evaluate forage intake, performance and ingestive behavior of beef heifers. Productive, structural and chemical characteristics of the pasture were also evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with three pasture systems (Alexandergrass [Urochloa plantaginea Link.] with and without supplement to heifers and Coastcross [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]) and two phenological stages: vegetative and flowering. The grazing method was put-and-take stocking. Grazing, ruminating and idle activities, feeding stations, displacement patterns, bite mass and bite rate were evaluated. The forage intake was estimated using chromic oxide as an indicator of fecal output. The heifers modified the use of feeding stations and displacement patterns between phenological stages and pasture systems. Heifers consumed more forage in the vegetative stage (2.81% of body weight in dry matter) than in the flowering stage (1.92% of body weight in dry matter). Average daily gain, body condition and stocking rate were similar for heifers in the evaluated systems. Beef heifers receiving protein supplement on Alexandergrass pasture consumed more forage than heifers fed Coastcross exclusively. Regardless of the species, no difference was observed when the heifers were exclusively on pasture. Pasture systems on Alexandergrass or Coastcross provide suitable nutrient intake for heifers to be mated at 18 months of age.

【 授权许可】

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